Mark Horton
Royal Agricultural College, Cultural Heritage Institute, Faculty Member
- Historical and maritime archaeologist, who works in East Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, North America, Britain, France and Mongoliaedit
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This article presents the first archaeological survey of the ornate Kidichi baths on Zanzibar. The baths were built either for or by Shihrazad, a wife of Zanzibar’s nineteenth-century ruler Said bin Sultan (1806–56). Laser scanning the... more
This article presents the first archaeological survey of the ornate Kidichi baths on Zanzibar. The baths were built either for or by Shihrazad, a wife of Zanzibar’s nineteenth-century ruler Said bin Sultan (1806–56). Laser scanning the ornate plaster stucco clarified two inscriptions, the precise meaning of which had been lost. By combining archaeological survey results with historical research and a translation of the inscriptions, a new narrative is presented in which the main protagonist is, unusually, female. Her story raises a host of questions relating to heritage, gender, religion and politics in modern-day Africa and beyond.
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Research Interests: Geography and Archaeology
The 15th century Swahili town of Songo Mnara (Tanzania) had six mosques—an unusual quantity for a town of only 7 hectares and a population of 500–1000 people. Large-scale archaeological investigations of two previously unstudied mosques,... more
The 15th century Swahili town of Songo Mnara (Tanzania) had six mosques—an unusual quantity for a town of only 7 hectares and a population of 500–1000 people. Large-scale archaeological investigations of two previously unstudied mosques, and detailed survey of the remaining four structures has suggested a complex pattern of Islamic practice in the town, including a dynamic relationship between mosques and burials, an emerging sense of social difference within the town, and the active signalling of Islamic faith to visitors through the construction of monuments intended to be seen on approach to the town. We commend a holistic approach in which mosques are studied not as isolated structures but as part of a wider urban landscape.
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The second season of investigations, in 1983, at the Maya ceremonial center and community of Nohmul, northern Belize, included mapping, test excava-tions in the settlement, and major excavations in the ceremonial precinct. Following... more
The second season of investigations, in 1983, at the Maya ceremonial center and community of Nohmul, northern Belize, included mapping, test excava-tions in the settlement, and major excavations in the ceremonial precinct. Following developmental maxima in the Late ...
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Page 1. The Peoples of Africa Mark Horton and John Middleton Page 2. Page 3. The Swahiii Mark. Horton and John Middleion The Swahili are one of the best known of the peoples of Africa. Living along the East African coast ...
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The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea has long been regarded as a document of unparalleled importance for the early history ofthe East African coast. The most recent translation of the Greek text was GWB Huntingford's for the... more
The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea has long been regarded as a document of unparalleled importance for the early history ofthe East African coast. The most recent translation of the Greek text was GWB Huntingford's for the Hakluyt Society (1980), which was not greeted ...
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Much archaeological and historical research has recently been devoted to the study of the early Swahili communities inhabiting the East African coast during the late first millennium a.d. The practice of Islam can be shown to date back to... more
Much archaeological and historical research has recently been devoted to the study of the early Swahili communities inhabiting the East African coast during the late first millennium a.d. The practice of Islam can be shown to date back to perhaps the beginning of the ninth century from when the first mosques have been excavated. The economic importance of East Africa for the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean world is apparent from the wealth of imports and exports found in a large number of these coastal sites. African trading systems brought to medieval society high-value commodities ranging from gold, rock crystal and ivory, to slaves and timber. The items were carried across large distances sea by traders following the seasonal monsoon system around the coasts and across the Indian Ocean. is argued that the trading settlements were African in culture and origin, but then attracted Muslims who were responsible for occasional local converts from a very early period in the history of I...
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Various biomolecular components preserved in domesticated animal bones recovered from the Nubian site of Qasr Ibrim are used for dietary reconstruction of their foddering and foraging behaviours. Utilising models of the biochemical... more
Various biomolecular components preserved in domesticated animal bones recovered from the Nubian site of Qasr Ibrim are used for dietary reconstruction of their foddering and foraging behaviours. Utilising models of the biochemical correlations with the dietary ...
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Recent archaeological research has firmly established eastern Africa’s offshore islands as important localities for understanding the region’s pre-Swahili maritime adaptations and early Indian Ocean trade con- nections. While the... more
Recent archaeological research has firmly established eastern Africa’s offshore islands as important localities for understanding the region’s pre-Swahili maritime adaptations and early Indian Ocean trade con- nections. While the importance of the sea and small offshore islands to the development of urbanized and mercantile Swahili societies has long been recognized, the formative stages of island colonization—and in particular the processes by which migrating Iron Age groups essen- tially became “maritime”—are still relatively poorly understood. Here we present the results of recent archaeological fieldwork in the Mafia Archipelago, which aims to understand these early adaptations and situate them within a longer-term trajectory of island settlement and pre-Swahili cultural developments. We focus on the results of zooar- chaeological, archaeobotanical, and material culture studies relating to early subsistence and trade on this island to explore the changing significance of marine resources to the local economy. We also discuss the implications of these maritime adaptations for the development of local and long-distance Indian Ocean trade networks.
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While palaeobotanical remains provide clear evidence for the exploitation of the date at various locations in Egypt and Nubia, it is the detection amongst lipid residues in closed form vessels of fatty acid distributions dominated by... more
While palaeobotanical remains provide clear evidence for the exploitation of the date at various locations in Egypt and Nubia, it is the detection amongst lipid residues in closed form vessels of fatty acid distributions dominated by diagnostic short-chain fatty acids, i.e. C12:0 and C14:0′ that provides the first direct evidence for the processing of palm fruit in pottery vessels.
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Geochemistry, Archaeological Science, Chromatography, Carbon, and 15 moreCombustion, Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, Identification, Population, Reconstruction, Carbon Isotopes, Correlation, Gas Chromatography, Sample, Nitrogen Isotopes, Arid Region, Carbon Isotope, Isotope analysis, Archaeological, and Amino Acid Profile
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The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea has long been regarded as a document of unparalleled importance for the early history ofthe East African coast. The most recent translation of the Greek text was GWB Huntingford's for the... more
The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea has long been regarded as a document of unparalleled importance for the early history ofthe East African coast. The most recent translation of the Greek text was GWB Huntingford's for the Hakluyt Society (1980), which was not greeted ...
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ABSTRACT This study presents the chemical analysis of an amorphous organic residue extracted from a 7th– early 8th century CE brass artefact from the trading port of Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar, Tanzania, hypothesised to be an incense burner.... more
ABSTRACT This study presents the chemical analysis of an amorphous organic residue extracted from a 7th– early 8th century CE brass artefact from the trading port of Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar, Tanzania, hypothesised to be an incense burner. The artefact is a very rare and highly significant find in East Africa, with only one other example being found previously (also at the same site), and likely represents early contact between coastal East Africa and the Indian Ocean world. Chemical analysis of the residue adhering to this artefact was undertaken to confirm its use to burn incense, and to determine whether the resin used was local or exotic to East Africa and thus likely acquired through long-distance trade. The residue extract was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and identified as Zanzibar copal (Hymenaea verrucosa Gaertn.), a local species that rose to major importance in colonial period trade. The results obtained from this study provide the first direct archaeological evidence for the ancient use of this East African species as an aromatic, suggesting that it might have had a much earlier role in long-distance incense trade than previously demonstrated. This finding also provides insights into local East African engagement with the material culture of the Indian Ocean world.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Geochemistry, Islamic Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Archaeological Science, and 15 moreIndian Ocean History, East Africa, Coastal and Island Archaeology, Indian Ocean World, Early Islamic Archaeology, Indian Ocean Trade, African Archaeology, Indian Ocean Archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science, East Africa archaeology, Incense Culture, Copal, Medieval Incense Burners, Incense Burners, and Ancient Incense Trade
While palaeobotanical remains provide clear evidence for the exploitation of the date at various locations in Egypt and Nubia, it is the detection amongst lipid residues in closed form vessels of fatty acid distributions dominated by... more
While palaeobotanical remains provide clear evidence for the exploitation of the date at various locations in Egypt and Nubia, it is the detection amongst lipid residues in closed form vessels of fatty acid distributions dominated by diagnostic short-chain fatty acids, i.e. C12:0 and C14:0′ that provides the first direct evidence for the processing of palm fruit in pottery vessels.
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In this article, we examine an assumption about the historic Swahili of the eastern African coast: that they were a maritime society from their beginnings in the first millennium C.E. Based on historical and archaeological data, we... more
In this article, we examine an assumption about the historic Swahili of the eastern African coast: that they were a maritime society from their beginnings in the first millennium C.E. Based on historical and archaeological data, we suggest that, despite their proximity to and use of the sea, the level of maritimity of Swahili society increased greatly over time and was only fully realized in the early second millennium C.E. Drawing on recent theorizing from other areas of the world about maritimity as well as research on the Swahili, we discuss three arenas that distinguish first- and second-millennium coastal society in terms of their maritime orientation. These are variability and discontinuity in settlement location and permanence; evidence of increased engagement with the sea through fishing and sailing technology; and specialized architectural developments involving port facilities, mosques, and houses. The implications of this study are that we must move beyond coastal location in determining maritimity; consider how the sea and its products were part of social life; and assess whether the marine environment actively influences and is influenced by broader patterns of sociocultural organization, practice, and belief within Swahili and other societies. [maritime, fishing and sailing, long-distance trade, Swahili, eastern Africa]. En este artículo, evaluamos la hipótesis de que los pueblos Swahili de la costa oriental africana fueron una sociedad marítima a partir del primer milenio E.C. Basados en información histórica y arqueológica, proponemos que la asociación de la sociedad Swahili con el mar incrementó considerablemente con el tiempo y se manifestó de una forma significativa particularmente desde principios del segundo milenio E.C. Utilizando teorías recientes sobre maritimidad en otras áreas del mundo, así como investigaciones sobre los Swahili, discutimos tres temas que marcan las diferencias del nivel de orientación marítima de esta sociedad costera entre el primer y segundo milenio. Éstas son la variabilidad y discontinuidad en la localización y permanencia de los asentamientos; evidencia de una conexión mayor con el mar a través de la tecnología de pesca y navegación; y desarrollos arquitectónicos especializados que incluyen instalaciones portuarias, mezquitas, y casas. Las implicaciones de este estudio indican que debemos considerar otros aspectos de una sociedad aparte de su localización costera para determinar su maritimidad. Hay que considerar cómo el mar y sus productos son parte de la vida social y evaluar si existe una influencia recíproca entre el ambiente marítimo y los patrones de organización sociocultural, las prácticas, y las creencias de los Swahili y otras sociedades. [marítimo, pesca y navegación, comercio a larga distancia, Swahili, África Oriental].
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Research Interests: Archaeology and Geology
Man's use of illuminants in lamps or as torches to extend the working day and range of environments accessible to him would have been a major technological advance in human civilisation. The most obvious... more
Man's use of illuminants in lamps or as torches to extend the working day and range of environments accessible to him would have been a major technological advance in human civilisation. The most obvious evidence for this in the archaeological record comes from pottery and stone vessels showing sooting due to the use of a wick in conjunction with a lipid-based fuel or illuminant. A wide range of potential fuels would have been exploited depending upon availability and burning requirements. Reported herein are the results of chemical investigations of a number of lamps recovered from excavations of the site of Qasr Ibrim, Egypt. Gas chromatographic, mass spectrometric and stable carbon isotopic analyses of both free (solvent extractable) and 'bound'(released from solvent extracted pottery by base treatment) lipids have revealed a wide range of saturated fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids and alpha, omega-dicarboxylic acids. Examination of the distributions of compounds and comparisons with the fatty acid compositions of modern plant oils have allowed a range of fats and oils to be recognised. Specific illuminants identified include Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) seed oil (most likely radish oil, Raphanus sativus), castor oil (from Ricinus communis), animal fat, with less diagnostic distributions and delta(13)C values being consistent with low stearic acid plant oils, such as linseed (Linum usitatissimum) or sesame (Sesamum indicum) oils. The identifications of the various oils and fats are supported by parallel investigations of illuminant residues produced by burning various oils in replica pottery lamps. The findings are entirely consistent with the classical writers including Strabo, Pliny and Theophrastrus.
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Geochemistry, Archaeological Science, Chromatography, Carbon, and 15 moreCombustion, Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, Identification, Population, Reconstruction, Carbon Isotopes, Correlation, Gas Chromatography, Sample, Nitrogen Isotopes, Arid Region, Carbon Isotope, Isotope analysis, Archaeological, and Amino Acid Profile
Various biomolecular components preserved in domesticated animal bones recovered from the Nubian site of Qasr Ibrim are used for dietary reconstruction of their foddering and foraging behaviours. Utilising models of the biochemical... more
Various biomolecular components preserved in domesticated animal bones recovered from the Nubian site of Qasr Ibrim are used for dietary reconstruction of their foddering and foraging behaviours. Utilising models of the biochemical correlations with the dietary ...
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Landeg White, Magomero: portrait of an African village (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987). Pp. xxi+271. £19.50.John Sender and Sheila Smith, The Development of Capitalism in Africa (London and New York: Methuen, 1986). Pp. 177.... more
Landeg White, Magomero: portrait of an African village (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987). Pp. xxi+271. £19.50.John Sender and Sheila Smith, The Development of Capitalism in Africa (London and New York: Methuen, 1986). Pp. 177. £7.95 paperback, £20 hardback.Hugh Hawes and Trevor Coombe (eds.) with Carol Coombe & Kevin Lillis, Educational Priorities and Aid Responses in Sub‐Saharan Africa (The report of
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... PF Van Bergen a , HA Bland a , MC Horton b and RP Evershed a. ... Geochemistry 10, 869876. Scalbert A., Monties B., Lallemand LY., Guittet E., and Rolando C. (1985) Ether linkage between phenolic acids and lignin frac tions from wheat... more
... PF Van Bergen a , HA Bland a , MC Horton b and RP Evershed a. ... Geochemistry 10, 869876. Scalbert A., Monties B., Lallemand LY., Guittet E., and Rolando C. (1985) Ether linkage between phenolic acids and lignin frac tions from wheat straw. Phytochem. 24, 13591362. ...
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Nature is the international weekly journal of science: a magazine style journal that publishes full-length research papers in all disciplines of science, as well as News and Views, reviews, news, features, commentaries, web focuses and... more
Nature is the international weekly journal of science: a magazine style journal that publishes full-length research papers in all disciplines of science, as well as News and Views, reviews, news, features, commentaries, web focuses and more, covering all branches of science and ...
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... and surface finds comprised red-burnished and incised-decorated types, found stratified elsewhere in twelfth century and later levels (Horton, 1984, pp. ... all apparently minted by Ali bin al-Hasan, who was also responsible for large... more
... and surface finds comprised red-burnished and incised-decorated types, found stratified elsewhere in twelfth century and later levels (Horton, 1984, pp. ... all apparently minted by Ali bin al-Hasan, who was also responsible for large numbers of copper coins there.3 The Mtambwe ...